I work part-time at a government agency. Do I need to report?
Yes. Business and Professions Code section 6073.2(d)(2) only applies to full-time employees or officers or elected officials of the State of California, or political subdivision thereof, or the federal government. Part-time employees are required to report either the amount of pro bono service hours provided in the past year, that they did not track their pro bono or reduced fee legal services hours, that they did not complete any pro bono or reduced fee legal services hours, or that they decline to answer.
How do I make changes to the response I submitted?
Prior to the March 30, 2026, deadline, you can make changes to your pro bono hours reporting by going to My State Bar Profile, navigating to the Summary tab (located on the top navigation bar), and selecting “Edit your Pro Bono Hours” from the Pro Bono Hours tile (located about three-quarters of the way down the page).
Does the State Bar have a program for attorneys who only want to do pro bono work?
The State Bar’s Pro Bono Practice Program (PBPP) allows attorneys who would otherwise be inactive to maintain an active license, free of fees, to exclusively provide pro bono legal services in partnership with a pro bono legal services provider. To qualify for the PBPP, an attorney must maintain an active license, submit an application annually for the program, be certified as a pro bono practice attorney, and exclusively provide pro bono legal services through an approved or qualified pro bono services provider. For more information, see the Pro Bono Practice Program webpage.
How do I track and report my pro bono or reduced fee legal services hours?
Attorneys are expected to track their own hours for the purposes of this reporting requirement. Some law firms require their attorneys to track this time already. A nonprofit with whom the attorney provides pro bono legal services may assist in tracking hours.
Attorneys are asked to report pro bono and reduced fee hours as a range (e.g., 1–5 hours, 6–10 hours, 11–19 hours, etc.). Attorneys will also be able to select 0 hours or less than 1 hour of pro bono or reduced fee legal services hours, or select the checkbox if you did not track your hours or you prefer not to answer.
Does volunteering with an LRS oversight panel count as pro bono legal services?
Possibly. Uncompensated work with an LRS oversight panel may count toward the pro bono hours requirement if it enables the delivery of legal services at a charitable, religious, civic, community, governmental, or education organization in matters in furtherance of its organizational purposes as defined under Business and Professions Code section 6073.1(c)(1)(C). Licensees should use their best judgment when determining whether the work performed, particularly non-legal tasks, enables the direct provision of legal work to the indigent or other nonprofit organizations.
Does uncompensated work by volunteer attorneys at a legal aid organization or law school, or as a court mediator, count as pro bono legal services?
Yes. Uncompensated work by volunteer attorneys that enables the delivery of legal services at a charitable, religious, civic, community, governmental, or education organization in matters in furtherance of its organizational purposes would qualify as bono hours as defined under Business and Professions Code section 6073.1(c)(1)(C). This includes volunteer teaching at a law school as well as volunteer mediation or arbitration services provided through a court, even when the parties are not indigent.
Does serving on the board of a local or affinity bar association count as pro bono legal services?
It depends. Service to a local or affinity bar association counts toward the pro bono hours requirement if it is legal in nature (i.e., providing legal services to the nonprofit directly pursuant to Business and Professions Code section 6073.1(c)(1)(B) or 6073.1(c)(1)(C)). General board service qualifies only to the extent that the work enables legal services to the indigent, to another “charitable, religious, civic, community, governmental, or educational organization in matters that are designed primarily to address the needs of persons of limited means,” or to another “charitable, religious, civic, community, governmental, or educational organization in matters in furtherance of its organizational purposes.” Licensees should use their best good-faith judgment in determining whether their non-legal board activities enable the direct provision of legal work to the indigent or other nonprofits.
Does serving on the board of a legal aid organization count as pro bono legal services?
For purposes of this reporting requirement, board service for a legal aid nonprofit would qualify because all board work with such an organization is enabling the delivery of legal services to the indigent (since these organizations primarily serve indigent California residents). Please note that some legal aid providers and other nonprofits for which attorneys provide pro bono legal services may also ask attorneys to report pro bono hours, but the definition for pro bono legal services may vary for their purposes. Attorneys should confirm definitions with the entity before reporting pro bono hours to the entity.
What are some examples of pro bono legal services?
Pro bono opportunities vary depending on the needs of the client community. Examples of pro bono legal services to indigent clients may include, but are not limited to:
Representation (full or limited scope)
Negotiation and settlement
Screening and intake
Brief service by phone or in person
Legal information or “Know Your Rights” workshops
Document preparation and review
Legal research and writing
Litigation support
Legislative research and legal analysis
What is the guidance on pro bono and reduced fee hours reporting for pro bono professionals, law school professors, and attorneys employed at law schools?
Any active licensee who does not meet one of the exemptions in Business and Professions Code section 6073.2(d) is required to report the amount of pro bono service hours provided in the past year, including pro bono professionals, law school professors, and attorneys employed at law schools. Attorneys are asked to provide their best, good faith effort at reporting the amount of pro bono and/or reduced fee legal services hours provided to low-income individuals, nonprofit organizations, or public law libraries during the past year to meet the requirement of Business and Professions Code section 6073.2. Even licensees who are exempt from reporting their pro bono hours must declare their exemption status in My State Bar Profile.
What information will the State Bar receive back from the DOJ and/or FBI?
The State Bar will receive criminal record information from both the DOJ and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). This information specifically includes a summary of arrests, pretrial proceedings, the nature and disposition of criminal charges, sentencing, incarceration, court-ordered rehabilitation conditions, and release. The DOJ will send the State Bar notification of subsequent California arrests and the disposition of those arrests. At this time, the FBI will not send notification of out-of-state arrests to the State Bar.
Are State Bar investigations into attorney misconduct public or confidential?
State Bar investigations and inquiries are, by statute, confidential. The complaint becomes public when disciplinary charges are filed against an attorney in State Bar Court. By law, however, any other pending investigations involving the same lawyer must remain confidential at that point. If it is determined that public protection is seriously at stake in a particular case, the Chief Trial Counsel does have the authority to publicly reveal a pending investigation.
If criminal conduct is suspected, the State Bar may also refer the matter to a law enforcement agency for investigation and potential prosecution.
I changed my last name. Does my compliance group change?
An attorney's compliance group never changes, even if a last name is changed. Attorneys always remain in the compliance group to which they originally were assigned. See Compliance Groups for more information.
How many JNE Commission members are assigned to investigate a candidate?
For Trial Court: Two or more commissioners, at least one of whom is an attorney member; for Supreme and Appellate Courts: Three or more commissioners, at least one of whom is a public member.
Which areas does the California Board of Legal Specialization certify directly?
Eleven areas:
Admiralty and Maritime Law
Appellate Law
Bankruptcy Law
Criminal Law
Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law
Family Law
Franchise and Distribution Law
Immigration and Nationality Law
Legal Malpractice Law
Taxation Law
Workers' Compensation Law
How are Special Masters appointed?
When a search warrant is issued for documents under the control of the specified professionals, the court appoints a Special Master to accompany the peace officer serving the warrant.
If the services to be provided are in fact loan modification services or other forbearance services, or are an integral part of such services, but the services are not expressly designated as “loan modification” services in the fee agreement, then does SB 94 apply?
Yes. SB 94 would apply even if the services are labeled as something other than loan modification services.
Who can answer my questions?
Questions should be directed to the administrator of the fee arbitration program you are using to arbitrate your dispute. Check the rules and/or forms given to you by the program for the administrator's address and telephone number or look under the Approved Programs. Unless the matter is urgent, the arbitrator assigned to hear your dispute should not be called.
What is the role of the arbitrator?
The arbitrator is a neutral decision maker, who considers the evidence presented by all parties and makes a decision on the lawyer's fees. The arbitrator cannot represent either the lawyer or the client in the dispute. Nor does the arbitrator typically independently investigate or gather evidence to support either side's position. The arbitrator must make the decision based on the evidence given by the parties.
What happens at the hearing?
The arbitrator has the authority to decide how the arbitration hearing should proceed. You may be asked to present your case first. You will be allowed to discuss the fee agreement and the reasons why you dispute the lawyer's fees. You may also introduce relevant documents, such as written fee agreements and copies of the lawyer's bills. Your presentation should be simple, factual, and directly related to the issue of lawyer's fees. Usually, this is also the time when you would present any witnesses to help prove your case.
After you have fully presented your case, the lawyer will have a chance to ask you questions.
The lawyer may also make their presentation and present any witnesses. You will have an opportunity to ask relevant questions after the lawyer has fully presented their case. To avoid interrupting the lawyer's presentation, you may want to take notes so that you can remember any points with which you disagree.
What is rule 8.3?
Rule 8.3 requires lawyers to report certain misconduct by other lawyers to the State Bar or a tribunal with jurisdiction to investigate or act upon such misconduct.
What happens if I fail to report misconduct under rule 8.3?
A lawyer who fails to report conduct as required by rule 8.3 may be subject to disciplinary action by the State Bar.
How can I see the Messages section?
All messages sent by the site administrator will appear in the Messages section. Above the calendar, click the tab labeled “Message” to view messages. Click a specific message to view the full message.
When must the New Attorney Training Program courses be completed?
New attorneys must complete all nine courses of the New Attorney Training Program by the last day of the month of an attorney’s one-year anniversary as a State Bar licensee. (Rule 2.414 of Title 2, Division 6, Chapter 1 of the Rules of the State Bar.)
For example: If your admission date is 10/15/24, your completion deadline will be 10/31/25.
You can also find your completion deadline date by logging in to My State Bar Profile or in the email you received from the State Bar about this program. If you have questions regarding your compliance deadline, complete the Licensee Records and Compliance Inquiry Form.
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